Worcester Cyclists Speak Out After Court Case Over Near Miss Incident
Cyclists in Worcester express concerns over road safety following a court case
Worcester, UK, Cyclists, Road Safety, Careless Driving
Worcester: Cyclist John Renshaw, who also chairs St Peter’s Parish Council, shared how dangerous it can be for cyclists. He pointed out that many drivers are glued to their phones instead of watching the road.
This all came to light when cyclist Dan Brothwell had a close call on March 27 last year. A driver overtook him dangerously, and thankfully, it was caught on video.
John Renshaw mentioned that drivers in Worcester often don’t see cyclists because they’re distracted by their mobile devices. It’s a real issue that needs addressing.
The video showed the driver zooming past Mr. Brothwell, who is also involved with the SHIFT scheme and leads Bike Worcester.
The driver, David Merritt, was found guilty of careless driving after the incident on the A443. He faced the music at Worcester Magistrates Court.
At 73 years old, Merritt was convicted after a trial on January 6, where it was revealed he sped past Mr. Brothwell, forcing him to swerve to avoid a collision.
Some folks on the Worcester News Facebook page were relieved that Mr. Brothwell wasn’t hurt and praised West Mercia Police for their handling of the case.
While there’s no proof that Merritt was on his phone during the incident, Renshaw believes that distractions like these are a big reason why drivers miss seeing cyclists until it’s too late.
He shared some alarming stats on Facebook: “In 2023, 87 cyclists were killed and nearly 4,000 seriously injured by motor vehicles on U.K. roads.”
Renshaw also recounted his own experiences, saying, “I’ve had drivers too busy on their phones to notice me, and I’ve had close calls when they overtake me right as I’m signaling to turn.”
Alison Potter chimed in, saying that drivers often zoom past cyclists, especially on country roads, which can be quite scary.
On the flip side, some readers pointed fingers at cyclists too. Jen Marshall commented that cyclists sometimes ignore traffic rules, like going through red lights, which adds to the chaos on the roads.